Record-Busting Van Gogh Draws Over 110,000 Tourists To Victoria

July 29, 2017

The National Gallery of Victoria’s record-breaking Van Gogh and the Seasons exhibition clocked a total attendance figure of 462,262 in 76 days, making it the most popular ticketed art exhibition ever presented in Victoria.

The exhibition proved to be a massive tourism drawcard for Victoria, with more than 90,000 visitors coming from interstate and a further 20,000 from overseas.

Throughout the exhibition’s run, 15,269 students participated in education programs exploring the artist’s work, while 22,919 people attended the popular Friday Night program featuring live music, including Victorian acts such as Gareth Liddiard, The Blackeyed Susans and The Fauves.

The NGV hosted a special 24-hour viewing during the closing weekend, and offered extended early morning and late night opening hours to meet the extraordinary demand.

The 49 artworks featured in the exhibition have now returned to lending institutions and collections across Europe and the US.

Van Gogh and the Seasons surpassed the NGV’s previous most popular exhibition, Andy Warhol/Ai Weiwei, which attracted 399,127 visitors in the summer of 2015/16.

Part of the Andrew Labor Government’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, Van Gogh and the Seasons has been a drawcard for Victorian audiences of all ages and visitors from across the country and beyond.

The NGV’s schedule of international exhibitions continues with the recent opening ofHokusai, featuring the work of the iconic Japanese artist, and the upcoming world premiere of The House of Dior fashion exhibition, opening August 27.

To find out more and buy tickets, visit ngv.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley

“The extraordinary success of this exhibition demonstrates the pulling power of our creative state – not just the record number of Victorians who flocked to see it, but those who travelled from across Australia and beyond.”

“International exhibitions like Van Gogh and the Seasons are just part of the creative and cultural talent that makes Victoria the top cultural destination in the country.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren

Ministerial Office

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Martin Foley MP acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.